See the big fat neck opening? I finally finished the body of Jim’s sweater.
He wanted a “Henley” sort of neck opening– it’s his favorite. He also doesn’t like the placket too deep, the depth is about 2 1/2″. (I’ve seen plackets as shallow as 1″ and as deep as 4″ on commercial sweaters, so the depth is really a matter of preference.)
Henley’s are one of the easiest necklines too design. So, as you can see, I knit the front up to the point where I wanted the neck split to start. I wanted the placket to be about 1 1/2″, so I left 7 stitches on a holder. At that point, I also put the stitches for the left side on a string and worked the right side only. Doing a few calculations, which require anticipating when sweater will actually need to finish up, the other involved figuring out how many stitches I needed for the full neck width– this happened to be 35 stitches. I figured out the row to start shaping the rest of the neck (this will be discussed in detail later).
I then decreased at a rate as follows.
Place a marker 14 stitches from neck edge (this is one half of 35 stitches- 7 stitches.) Starting at neck edge:
- Row 1: Bind off 3 stitches, work in pattern to end of row.
- Row 2 & all even rows: work all stitches in pattern.
- Row 3: Bind off 2 stitches, work in pattern to end of row.
- Row 5: Bind off 2 stitches, work in pattern to end of row.
- Row 7: Bind off 1 stitch, work in pattern to end of row.
Repeat row 1 until you have bound off all 14 neck stitches.
Then, I worked the left side to match the right side.
I worked the back to match– only without the slit and no neck shaping. (Neck shaping is permitted on the back neck, but honestly, I often skip it.) I sewed the shoulders together using mattress stitch.
Are there any tips for shaping a neck?
For a well fitted neck, you will be nearly finished with the front side when you have completed the neck shaping. Unless your gauge is very fine, there should be no more than 4 rows before the final bind-off. (If you have more rows to knit, it’s likely the designer made the neck a bit deep either a) to simplify pattern writing, b) to cope with the fact that knitters frequently don’t hit the row gauge or c) the sweater style calls for a deep neckline.)
Note, also, as you work this neck shaping, if you are using a pattern that results in a sweater that fits both your neck and shoulders well, you will almost certainly begin to shape the shoulders before you have bound off all 14 neck stitches. To do this, you will decrease stitches at the beginning of even rows– generally, you’ll bind off roughly 5 stitches every other row. (Beginner pattern sometimes skip shoulder shaping and have you bind everything off all shoulder stitches at once. )
Obviously, you need to finish the neck shaping before you finish the shoulder shaping–but remember: you don’t want it to end way too soon. Understanding that you want to finish the neck and shoulder shaping at on almost the same row is key to understanding how to calculate a neck. For this reason, I’m defering discussing the calculation for a bit– and I’ll be creating charts and the bit of the sweater calculator that lets you calculate the neck shortly.
Bye for now!
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Lucia Liljegren: Copyright 2005-2007 Rights to all site content including knitting patterns, generators and haikus reserved.
I miss knitting … I haven’t had my hands hold a knitting rod for more than ten years
Comment by AOV Philippines Outsourcing Service (1 comments.) — 11/7/2007 @ 6:34 pm
I just found your website and blog and want to tell you that you have a wealth of helpful info on knitting and I appreciate it SO MUCH!!!
I’ve only been knitting for a couple of years and have started on a rather difficult sweater, with cables. I was having a difficult time trying to figure the “increase 17 stitches evenly over 93 stitches”. I found your site and entered the numbers in the calculator. Thank you so much! I’m off to try it now!
Comment by Sharon (1 comments.) — 11/9/2007 @ 8:53 am
What beautiful knitting!
Love the color, too.
I stumbled across your blog that really should be a regular with so many of the other ones I’ve seen…it’s great!
Comment by Maria (1 comments.) — 11/14/2007 @ 8:53 pm
woah!!! all i can say is that knitting a present is the most beautiful gesture. but if you get it even a tiny bit wrong…its so sad for the person recieving this beautiful gift they can’t wear…its such a sensitive, brave act. jules.
Comment by jules (1 comments.) — 11/19/2007 @ 7:01 am
It’s looking great, though I think I’d like to see it in person. Hint, hint.
Comment by Heather R — 11/28/2007 @ 7:46 am
You have such a great amount of mathematical/knitting knowledge. It is like Elizabeth Zimmerman for our 2000’s. I think with all the tools you provide us, a knitting magazine should really highlight your web-site. How do you do the numbers so well?
Comment by mary — 12/2/2007 @ 12:51 pm
Hi Lucia,
I really like your website. Your blue sweater is really beautiful. It appears to have a stitch pattern, just wondered what it was.
I’ve been trying to work up a sweater for my husband. I printed out your seamless man’s raglan sweater directions, and have designed a sweater based loosely on that, but with a henly neckline & placket, but I wanted tunic style hem in about 1″ garter stitch contrasting color, with about a 4 to 6 ” split on each side. I’m having to use a separate ball of yarn for each side. I couldn’t figure out any better way to carry the 5 sts of CC up the sides. Then once I got the CC sides in and switch strictly to all the Main Color, I figured I could switch to size 8 Circular needle, and knit it the rest of the way up. I’m trying to use the full twisted rib stitch for the body of the sweater. I’m not sure, I think I might’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I’ve been knitting for about 16 years on & off now. My husband thinks I might complete it in time for his funeral! LOL! Any suggestions - if possible?
Thanks! Marilyn
Comment by Marilyn — 12/4/2007 @ 5:11 am
I’ve just found your blog (not sure how, but oh, well). I apologize in advance that what I am about to ask doesn’t really have to do with your post, but you obviously know what your doing, so maybe you can answer my question. I’ve seen some sweaters that look sort of like stoles with arms in them, so that they have a back and arms like all sweaters (no bottom rib, though), and the front is these two long tails that can be left loose or swept over oppposite shoulders. I’m looking for a pattern, or better yet, a schematic, as i’m a machine knitter (why would anyone want to do stockinette by hand?), but I don’t even know what they’re called! Do you know what they’re called? I googled stole sweater, and I think that’s how I found you. But it clearly wasn’t the right term. Thanks!
Hollis
Comment by Hollis — 12/22/2007 @ 2:59 pm
You seem to be very well informed on all knitting issues. Would you happen to know anything about a Singer HK100? I see it on e-bay but the seller cannot tell me if it is a “Bulky” machine… Web browsing has not helped.
Thank you.
Maria
Comment by Maria — 1/3/2008 @ 12:06 pm
I miss kitting too. Nowadays there’s no time even for make a scarf for my dog:( And your blog is awesome!
Comment by Kristin — 1/7/2008 @ 11:34 am
I see a Spring 2008 collection in the making? Or Project Runway maybe?
Comment by Michael Beasley — 1/16/2008 @ 11:48 pm
What a beautiful knitting!
Love the color, too.
Comment by UK Travel Guide — 1/24/2008 @ 1:44 pm
Nice! I tried knitting before but found out I’m not good at it =(
Comment by Floyd Buenavente — 3/5/2008 @ 2:35 am
knitting is sooooo much fun
Comment by Jeff Gordon — 3/19/2008 @ 12:42 pm
Keep up the good work!!
Comment by Clothing Guy — 3/21/2008 @ 11:57 am
Wow, that is pretty impressive non the less. I can still only knit scarves but am working my way up to socks!!
And to those who say they aren’t good at knitting, well, like anything else it just takes practice. Oh man! you should have seen me the first time my mom (who is an expert) was trying to teach me. I felt like I had a learning disability. It’s not easy task for beginner’s. I have moved away from my mom, and recently picked knitting back up. I literally had to teach myself how to cast on again which took the better part of 20 mins (no laughing!).
So, you Can do it!!! You just got to want to do it and put y our minds to it. best of luck!!!
Comment by Jocelyn Ramirez — 3/25/2008 @ 12:24 pm
i wonder how people perform the art of knitting. I tried once but ended up in wasting a whole roll of thread.
Comment by David Williams — 4/2/2008 @ 11:14 am
how long did that take to make?
Comment by Music Teacher — 4/2/2008 @ 12:09 pm
I love the color you’re using! It’s beautiful! : ]
I always watch the women in my family knit and I find it amazing. Hopefully, someday I will be able to learn!
Comment by Jenna — 4/3/2008 @ 7:22 am
really great
Comment by vlajky a dresy — 4/5/2008 @ 2:10 pm
Hey, I’d love to see how that sweater turned out in the end - is it finished yet?
Comment by Rebel Squirrel — 4/6/2008 @ 8:30 am
I can’t wait to see how the sweater turns out, let us know.
mma clothing
Comment by Daniel — 4/11/2008 @ 11:40 pm
Nice Color. Is it finished. Sure would like to see the final result!
Comment by Coffee Maker Guru — 4/16/2008 @ 7:39 am
Hey I like the dark blue colour of the sweater,though the shape of the sweater looks weird and quite funny to me.I think you should go to a professional designer.
Comment by Bob Liddle — 4/19/2008 @ 10:12 am
thank you, nice
Comment by shai — 4/25/2008 @ 2:02 pm
I really love this color blue , its my favorite color.I think Jim has got a avery different and unique choice ragarding the shape of the sweater.
Comment by Sandra Prangenberg — 4/30/2008 @ 8:39 am
That is going to be an amazing sweater. Love the color.
Comment by hijinks — 4/30/2008 @ 5:21 pm
knitting it´s very difficult for me, but your sweater is very original.
Comment by nueva york — 5/3/2008 @ 2:48 am
Was just surfing the net and your knitting projects bring back old memories… The best I could ever do was a scarf, lol! Look forward to see how it turns out.
Comment by Web Today — 5/3/2008 @ 12:50 pm
looks nice — my girlfriend knits, but she hasn’t tried a sweater yet.
Comment by Roberto — 5/11/2008 @ 6:17 pm
Thats a good looking sweater you made there. I’m impressed!
Comment by California Beauty Salon Insurance — 5/13/2008 @ 9:39 am